Transport for London (TfL) fares have changed on January 2, 2010 (see the list above: London Lite Oct 15, 09). For an Oyster pay-as-you-go card (credit-card-sized reusable prepaid travel card for London transportation), bus & tram single ticket price went up £1→£1.20 (20% up), and £1.60→£1.80 (12.5％ up) for a single Tube ride within Zone 1, which covers central London. But the price hike above inflation rate has caused anger among passengers. But there is also a good news. Now the vast majority of National Rail services in Greater London accept Oyster pay as you go (except Heathrow Express. details can be found here); it was limited to ristricted number of services previously.

Oyster card, introduced in 2003, is a must-have item for a life in London. It can be used on bus, Tube, Tramlink, DLR (Docklands Light Railway), London Overground and National Rail services in Greater London. There are two kinds of Oyster cards: Pay as you go (no expiration) and Oyster travel cards (fixed period). Pay as you go can be topped up unlimited number of time, and can store up to £90 of credit. You must touch onto electronic reader when entering and leaving the transport system in order to validate it or deduct funds (for a bus, touch once only when entering), and it always charges you the lowest fare available for your journey. Oyster fares are always cheaper than cash fares (Bus&Tram single fare £2, Tube Zone 1 single ride £4!). When you first get your Oyster card, you will need to pay a refundable £3 deposit. You can purchase or top up your card at any Tube stations, Oyster Ticket Stops (there are many in the city – look for the blue logo sticker), and Oyster online. There is also a Visitor Oyster card for tourists as well, and it’s worth getting one, even though £2 fee is charged to issue the card. You can also purchase it online before your trip, so you can use it right away, without waiting on a long queue or looking for a ticket shop.